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A Brownie as An Energy Snack?: Clif Z Bar for Kids

February 29, 2016   10 Comments

I don’t know how many of you would like a chocolate brownie that is also a healthy snack –but I guess that would be a majority.

Cliff Z Bar Review

If a brownie was as healthy as an apple or a banana – wouldn’t you eat it all the time? I would.

A reader asked me to take a look at Clif Kid Zbar and I chose “chocolate brownie” because it sounded so good. It is advertised as a “baked whole grain energy snack”.

Which got me thinking! Isn’t a regular brownie a “baked energy snack” if you think about it for a minute?

Does adding whole grain make this a “healthy” brownie? Clif bar not only is organic, and uses whole grain but they add vitamins and minerals to the bar.

INGREDIENTS: Organic Oat Blend (Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Oat Flour, Organic Oat Fiber), Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Chocolate Chips (Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla Extract), Organic Cane Syrup, Organic Fig Paste, Organic Cocoa, Organic Soy Butter (Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soybean Oil, Salt), Natural Flavors, Organic Milled Flaxseed, Organic Sunflower Oil, Sea Salt, Baking Soda. VITAMINS & MINERALS: Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C), Ferric Orthophosphate (Iron), Zinc Oxide, Niacinamide (Vit. B3), Beta Carotene (Vit. A), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vit. B1), Riboflavin (Vit. B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vit. B6), Folic Acid (Vit. B9), Cyanocobalamin (Vit. B12).

I have highlighted the instances of sugar in the ingredient list and there are 11 grams of sugar for the entire bar.

130 calories, 3.5 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 23.0 g carbohydrates, 11 g sugar, 2 g protein, 3.0 g fiber, 140 mg sodium, 5 SmartPts

The good news is that this bar is less sugar than most of the bars out there and it is a nice size for a snack. The bad news is that it is still more like a brownie than a healthy snack. I consider these type of bars a treat – a dressed-up cookie – and they cost $1.25 each!

Obviously, if you want a brownie –eat a brownie! This tastes nothing like a real brownie. It tastes like a cross between an oatmeal cookie and a brownie and it is kinda strange.

Does this look delicious?

I have a hard time understanding how this is appealing to anyone.

My suggestion is to go with an apple and peanut butter, a banana and sunbutter, cheese and whole grain crackers, nuts and raisins - anything that has whole foods instead of this highly processed turd like bar.

Have you tried Clif Kid ZBar? What do you think?

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10 Comments:

Not going to lie, I enjoy (and look forward to) a Cliff Z bar 3 times a week! I have one with a bit of pb before my strength training workouts! I buy them when they are on sale for 69 cents. I love the oatmeal flavor and the chocolate chip. Brownie is my least favorite! Every once in awhile I feel some guilt that I should be having oatmeal or a real power bar....but I can't quit them😍

Love your emails!

Thank you for a good assessment and very sound advise.

My daughter loves these, but I figured out a way to make a tastier one at home with Fair Trade Cocoa ('cause I'm just not into the whole child slavery thing...). I use fig paste, hemp protein powder, and way less sugar. Recipe soon on my blog!

For those of us who already take vitamins of some kind, be careful because these added vitamins could mean you are taking a lot more than the recommended amount which is not safe in the case of some vitamons.

And this is why i stick with KIND Strong bars....only good stuff in those!

Oh I so agree with Snack Girl on this so-called snack, which by its very description is a treat. Snacks, I believe, are foods that are consumed daily in most cases, right? For my snacking, I like to eat real whole foods which include SG's suggestions. A piece of fruit and cheese or cheese and a delicious pickle are so satisfying. I keep a ramekin of raisins and almonds on my nightstand for late nibbling :) Recently a friend brought me a 6'' cannoli, chock-filled with sweetened ricotta and choc. chips. I looked at it for 24 hrs then decided to eat half with a cup of tea one night and call it a treat. Of course the next night I did the same. You know what happened the 3rd night? I experienced mild addiction, a craving for more. That's all it took. This confection was not very big either, equal to 2 pingpong balls. Raisins, dates, apricots, fresh fruit, none of these make me crave -- just satisfied. Actually, even my home made chocolate cake doesn't make me crave because I've switched to coconut palm sugar which is less sweet. Everyone loves it too. Maple syrup, honey and stevia drops also don't give me craves. I'm not positive, but I believe when we control the level and source of added sweeteners, its not only healthier, but it doesn't set us up for a ''gotta have a sweet'' feeling/habit either.

11 grams of sugar is still waaaay too much sugar for a treat! May as well go for a good ol' rich brownie!

THANK YOU!!! My kids ask for these all the time because their friends have them. I tell them no because I see no nutritional value and thy are 2 expensive. I would rather bake them something and put it in a ziplock Baggie!

I'm a 62 year old Jenny Craig "graduate" who enjoys a Kids Cliff Bar every morning with a bit of Yogurt or piece of fruit. It's just the right size for a mid morning pick me up. Keeps me from eating something 'naughty' like a bagel or donut while "taming the hunger lion". I guess whatever works for you. I buy them at a 'Big Box Store". Works for me.

I eat these daily for an afternoon snack & find them so delicious. They definitely satisfy my sweet tooth!

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